Small or large load automatic washer

ABSTRACT

An automatic washer for washing either large or small loads of clothes or other washable articles is provided with a two speed timer for controlling the complete cycle of washing, centrifugal extraction, rinsing the centrifugal extraction operations for either a normal length of time or a shorter length of time. A water level control means for controlling the amount of water introduced into the washer is mechanically connected to the timer means so as to operate the timer on the shorter complete cycle when the water level switch is set for a minimum water level position.

United States Patent Gakhar [451 July 4,1972

[54] SMALL OR LARGE LOAD AUTOMATIC WASHER [72] Inventor: Ved P. Gakhar, Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 117,547

[52] U.S. Cl. ..68/12 R,68/4, 137/387 [51] Int. Cl. ..D06i 37/36, D06f33/02, Fl6k 21/18 [58] Field of Search ..137/387; 68/12 R,4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,324,688 6/1967 Hubbard ..68/4 3,474,646 10/1969 Simsetal ..137/387X Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Attorney-Walter E. Rule, Francis l-l. Boos, Jr., Frank L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and Joseph B. Forman [57] ABSTRACT An automatic washer for washing either large or small loads of clothes or other washable articles is provided with a two speed timer for controlling the complete cycle of washing, centrifugal extraction, rinsing the centrifugal extraction operations for either a normal length of time or a shorter length of time. A water level control means for controlling the amount of water introduced into the washer is mechanically connected to the timer means so as to operate the timer on the shorter complete cycle when the water level switch is set for a minimum water level position.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SMALL OR LARGE LOAD AUTOMATIC WASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many modern automatic washers are designed to provide appropriate cycles of operation both for the washing of small loads of lightly soiled clothes as well as washing of large loads of heavily soiled clothes. Such washers have usually included means for adjusting the amount of water used during the washing and rinsing operations to match the size of the wash load. A particularly versatile washer of this type is disclosed and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,091,107 Rhodes. In this washer there is provided both a regular sized container or basket for the washing of large or medium size loads and a small auxiliary basket removably mounted on the agitator so that a small fabric load, as for example a load of delicate fabrics, may be laundered in the small auxiliary without being subjected to the operation of the agitator, the washing action instead being obtained by water movement resulting from the motion of the agitator-carried auxiliary basket. Means are also provided for limiting the amount of water introduced into the washer to substantially the volume required to fill the auxiliary basket.

It is also desirable when washing relatively small loads and particularly small loads of delicate fabrics that the complete cycle of operation be shorter than normal.

Sequence timers have also been provided for decreasing the complete laundering cycle including each of the individual operations comprising that cycle by driving switch operating component of the timer at either a slow speed for normal wash operation or a high speed when it is desired to wash small loads of lightly soiled fabrics as for example in the auxiliary basket. Such a timer is described and claimed for example in the copending, and now abandoned, application, Ser. No. 887,159, filed Dec. 22, 1969, in the name of Robert Martin Fey and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. For maximum efficient operation of a washer of the type disclosed in the Fey application, it is necessary that the user pre-set both the water level control switch and the timer in order to match the timer setting to the water level required for a particular wash load in the auxiliary basket.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby a pre-setting of the water level control to a minimum water level position automatically sets the timer for operating the washer through the shorter complete laundering cycle. A more specific object of theinvention is to providea simple mechanical means operated by the water level control means for effecting the proper selection of the timer speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an automatic washer including container means for containing liquid and articles to be washed, means for imparting a washing action to the articles in the container and means for extracting liquid from the articles. The washer also includes a liquid inlet valve for controlling the supply of liquid to the washer and a two speed timer for sequentially operating the washer through preselected cycles of laundering operations which include opening of the valve, the washing operation, and an extraction operation; the timer including selector means for operation thereof at a normal speed or at a faster speed. A liquid level switch including operating means movable to a plurality of positions for closing the valve at any of a plurality of selected water levels in the container means including a minimum water level position is provided with means mechanically connecting the water level switch operating means to the timer selector means for efiecting operation of the timer means at a faster speed only when the liquid level switch operating means is in a minimum water level position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section of a washing machine incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of certain components of a timer switch means suitable for the practice of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the essential operating components of a water level switch means and the timer operatively interconnected in accordance with the present invention and positioned for a normal load; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the positions of such components for washing a minimum wash load.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an agitator-type, automatic clothes washer comprising an im-- perforate tub I in which there is rotatably supported a perforate washing basket or container 2 for washing or rinsing clothes therein and for centrifugally extracting liquid therefrom. A vertically extending agitator 3 is provided centrally of the basket 2. Both the basket 2 and the agitator 3 are connected to a drive means 4 driven by a motor 5 so that during a washing operation both the basket 2 and the agitator 3 are oscillated back and forth to agitate the clothes within the basket 2. During the centrifugal extraction operation, both the basket and agitator are rotated at a high speed with the washing liquid being pumped from the tub l by a pump 6 connected to a drain (not shown).

Hot and cold water are supplied to the washer through conduits 8 and 9 adapted respectively to be connected to sources of hot and cold water, these conduits extending into a conventional mixing valve 10 provided with solenoids 11 and 12 which in a conventional manner will provide the passage of hot, cold, or warm water to the washer through a hose l4 positioned to discharge that water into the basket 2. For the purpose of gently washing delicate garments as well as other small loads of lightly soiled clothes, there is provided a small auxiliary basket 15 removably mounted on the center post of the agitator 3, the washing action within this small basket being obtained by water movement resulting from the motion of the agitator. The basket 15 is imperforate except for small openings 16 adjacent the upper edge thereof and is so tapered as to assure an upward movement of liquid within the basket and discharge thereof through holes 16 during the centrifugal extraction operation of the washer.

The washer also includes a control panel 17 containing a variety of control means including a cycle control timer 18 and a water level control means 19. I

In accordance with the present invention, the cycle control timer 18 is a two speed timer adapted to operate at a normal speed for a normal wash total laundry cycle or at a faster speed to provide a shorter total laundering cycle. Means operable by a pre-determined setting of the water level control 19 are provided for effecting the faster operation of the timer control when the water level control is set for minimum water level.

Any suitable two speed timer may be employed in the practice of the present invention. The illustrated timer, the essential operating components of which are shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, is of the type more fully described and claimed in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 887,159- Fey. It includes a constant speed drive motor (not shown) having a drive shaft 20 carrying a drive pinion 21. The drive pinion 21 meshes with a gear 22 forming part of a stacked gear assembly including a first output gear 23 and a second smaller output gear 24. The output gear 23 meshes with a relatively small driven gear 26 while the output gear 24 meshes with a somewhat larger gear 27. The gears 26 and 27 respectively form parts of high and low speed drive trains for driving a rotary switch cam 29. The high speed drive including gear 26 comprises a shaft 30 to which the gear 26 is rigidly secured and an output pinion 31 meshing with the gear teeth 32 provided on the peripheral surface of the cam 29. The output pinion 31 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 and is adapted to be driven by that shaft through an overdrive spring clutch 33.

The low speed drive train includes gear 27 rigidly mounted on a shaft 34 and an output pinion 35 meshing with the teeth 32 and driven by the gear 27 through an overdrive spring clutch 36.

One function of the spring clutches 33 and 36 is to permit the operator to rotate the shaft 37 carrying the switch cam 29 by means of the knob 38 (FIG. 1) for the purpose of positioning the timer at an initial starting position without causing a corresponding rotation of the drive motor. In other words, when the user rotates the shaft 37 in one direction, the output pinions 31 and 35 will rotate with the cam 29 and the overdrive clutches 33 and 36 will loosen their grip consequently transmitting no rotational movement to the shaft 30 and 34.

As is more fully described in the aforementioned Fey application, only the spring clutch 33 is required for the purpose of providing a two speed operation of the cam 29. In other words, assuming that both of the pinions 31 and 35 are connected to the drive motor, the high speed drive train including the pinion 31 will rotate the cam at a high speed and the clutch 36 will be overdriven since the output pinion 35 will be rotated faster than the clutch 36 would otherwise rotate it.

For the purpose of operating the cam 29 at a low speed for normal washing loads, means are provided for releasing the spring clutch 33. This means includes a collar member 40 rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 for rotation relative thereto, this member having a slot 41 for holding the lower end of the spring 33. This member or collar 40 is also provided with a toothed circumferential surface which is adapted to be engaged by a ratchet pawl 44 secured to a control shaft 45.

When the ratchet is in engagement with the toothed surface of the collar 40, the collar is prevented from rotating thereby causing the coils of the spring clutch 33 to loosen their grip on the output pinion 31 so that no motion is transmitted thereto. The switch cam 29 is then driven at a lower speed through the output pinion 35.

The cam 29 is, of course, provided with cam surfaces, such as that indicated by the numeral 50, adapted to open and close the contacts of switches such as a switch 51. It will be realized that the cam actually incorporates a number of switch operating surfaces, these surfaces and the switches operated thereby controlling thesequential operation of the inlet valve 10, the motor 5, components of the drive mechanism 4 and various other components of the automatic washer.

' The liquid level control means 19 forming part of the automatic washer is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and of the drawing. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentinvention, it comprises a pressure responsive switch means and since such pressure responsive switches are well known in the art, the operating elements thereof are shown somewhat schematically.

The liquid water level control means 19 is employed to close the valve which has been opened by a timer cam operated switch when the level of water in the tub 1 has reached a pre-determined or pre-selected height. The pressure responsive switch means, as schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, comprises a casing 60 containing a flexible diaphram 61 dividing the interior of the easing into a pressure chamber 62 and a switch chamber 63. The pressure chamber 62 is connected by a tubing 64 to a lower portion of the tub I at about the level of the bottom of the basket 2 so that after the water reaches or exceeds the height of the connection of the tube 64 to the tub I the pressure in the chamber 62 increases in proportion to the head or level of the water in the tub. The switch construction comprises spaced stationary contacts 65 and 66 and a snap action means 67 having contacts 68 alternately engageable with the stationary contacts. Contact 66 controls the operation valve 10 through a timer switch. A plunger 69 connected to the diaphram 61 is adapted to engagethe snap action means 67 for operating the switch in response to an increased pressure on the diaphram. The action of the plunger 69 is opposed by a biasing means 70 including a cup-shaped plunger 71 and a second plunger 72 received in the cup-shaped plunger and a compression spring 73 interposed between the bottom of the plunger 71 and the plunger 72, the latter plunger engaging the snap action mechanism 67. The plunger 71 is slidably mounted in the wall of the housing 60 and its biasing action is controlled by means of a cam 74 acting through a cam follower 75 adapted to engage the plunger 71.

The cam 74 has a plurality of surfaces thereon for positioning the follower 75 relative to the biasing means to provide different resisting forces which in turn determine the pressure at which the diaphram will operate the switch and hence control the water level within the tub 1. In FIG. 3 of the drawing, the cam is set for a relatively high water level or in other words is positioned so that there is a maximum biasing action of the diaphram 73 resisting the movement of the mechanism 67 by the diaphram 61. In FIG. 4 of the drawing, the cam is set for a minimum water level with the cam follower 75 completely disengaged from the plunger 71. Thus the unopposed pressure on the diaphram 61 will open the water level switch shortly after the level of water in the tub reaches the inlet end of tube 64.

Means for shifting the timer device from one speed to the other comprises an operating arm rotatably mounted on the cam shaft 81, this arm 80 being mechanically connected through link 83 to a shift arm 82 rigidly secured to the operating member 45 of the timer mechanism as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. A spring 84 normally biases the arm 80 to a position in which the linkage 83 causes the pawl 44 to engage the toothed collar 40 for disengaging spring clutch 33 and operating the timer mechanism at a low or normal speed. Thus for all normal or average load settings of the water level control, the timer operates at its normal speed.

When the water control 19 is set for a minimum water level range by the control knob 85, that is the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, a projection 86 on the cam engages a finger 87 on the ann 80 and rotates the arm in a clockwise direction to the position in which the pawl 44 disengages the toothed collar member 40 thereby operating'the timer at its higher speed for a shorter laundry cycle. Since the finger 87 is engaged by the projection 86 only in this position of the cam 74 a normal laundry cycle is provided in all other positions of the water level control but a'shorter and more effective and desirable cycle is automatically provided when the water level control 19 is position for use of the auxiliary basket 15. As is described in the aforementioned Rhodes patent, at this minimum water level setting, water flows from the outlet 14 into the tub 1 until the water level reaches the inlet end of the tube 64 where a minimum water level pressure will serve to operate the unopposed pressure switch. At this point pressure switch 19 operates to close valve 10 and initiate a wash cycle during which a recirculation pump 88 pumps this water through conduit 89 into the basket 15. Excess water flowing from basket 15 through openings 16 returns to the tub from where it is again recirculated into basket 15.

From the above description, it will be seen that by setting of the water level control for a fast cycle using a low volume of water, the timer is automatically switched to the fast cycle operation. This assures the desired short cycle without an independent pre-setting of the timer control.

While there has been shown and described a specific embodiment of the present invention it will be understood that it is not limited thereto and it is intended by the apended claims to cover all such modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an automatic washer including container means for containing liquid and articles to be washed, means for impartfor effecting operation thereof at a normal speed or a faster speed,

a liquid level control including switch operating means movable to a plurality of positions for closing said valve at any of a plurality of selected water levels in said container means including a low water level range,

said switch operating means including means mechanically connected to said selector means for effecting operation of said timer at said faster speed only when said switch operating means is in the low water level range.

2. A washer according to claim 1 in which said mechanically connected means comprises a member spring biased to a position for normal speed.

3. In an automatic washer including container means for containing liquid and articles to be washed, means for imparting a washing action to said articles and means for extracting liquid from said articles,

a liquid inlet valve for controlling the supply of liquid to said washer,

a two-speed timer for sequentially operating said washer through a preselected cycle of operations including opening of said valve, a washing operation, and an extracting operation, said timer including selector means for operation thereof at a normal speed or a faster speed,

a liquid level control including a switch and switch operating means movable to a plurality of positions for closing said valve at any of a plurality of selected water levels in said container means including a minimum water level position,

said switch operating means including a switch control cam,

a cam shaft and an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft and mechanically connected to said selector means for effecting operation of said timer at said faster speed only when switch operating means is in the minimum water level position.

4. A washer according to claim 3 in which said arm spring is biased to a normal position for operating said timer at a normal speed.

5. A washer according to claim 4 in which said cam includes means engaging said arm upon movement of said switch operating means to the minimum water level position. 

1. In an automatic washer including container means for containing liquid and articles to be washed, means for imparting a washing action to said articles and means for extracting liquid from said articles, a liquid inlet valve for controlling the supply of liquid to said washer, A two-speed timer for sequentially operating said washer through a pre-selected cycle of operations including opening of said valve, a washing operation, and an extracting operation, said timer including selector means for effecting operation thereof at a normal speed or a faster speed, a liquid level control including switch operating means movable to a plurality of positions for closing said valve at any of a plurality of selected water levels in said container means including a low water level range, said switch operating means including means mechanically connected to said selector means for effecting operation of said timer at said faster speed only when said switch operating means is in the low water level range.
 2. A washer according to claim 1 in which said mechanically connected means comprises a member spring biased to a position for normal speed.
 3. In an automatic washer including container means for containing liquid and articles to be washed, means for imparting a washing action to said articles and means for extracting liquid from said articles, a liquid inlet valve for controlling the supply of liquid to said washer, a two-speed timer for sequentially operating said washer through a pre-selected cycle of operations including opening of said valve, a washing operation, and an extracting operation, said timer including selector means for operation thereof at a normal speed or a faster speed, a liquid level control including a switch and switch operating means movable to a plurality of positions for closing said valve at any of a plurality of selected water levels in said container means including a minimum water level position, said switch operating means including a switch control cam, a cam shaft and an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft and mechanically connected to said selector means for effecting operation of said timer at said faster speed only when switch operating means is in the minimum water level position.
 4. A washer according to claim 3 in which said arm spring is biased to a normal position for operating said timer at a normal speed.
 5. A washer according to claim 4 in which said cam includes means engaging said arm upon movement of said switch operating means to the minimum water level position. 